The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-27
ECtEN1RICITIES OF 4 MINSTREL.
Stories of Eph Horn Of tho Remarkable
Annd. aud Mouth.
From the boston Record

A few days ago l had a conversation with
o s"ntlcman who for II number OF, years was
Interested in minstrelsy. lie related, some very
that Eph Horn was tho funniest man in his
way who evertOok 10 the minstrel siaga;a man
write. was gifted with a keen wit and SO ready
atonSue that II was not safe for even tho most
polished %f.rceur TO assault; him. Possessed of
counted them all. Horn will rank in, the scale
of his wit rs one Of the leading lights in, the
minstrel, profession. lie was u splendid buff
loon, ana lie lett no peer.
Horn was = frgnzled gambler. He lost a good
hali q MS handsome earnings .bnc"inG tho
would never lei, up n, long AS he had anything
the bank would take for cash. Once y friend
chain, cum ana collar buttons, anu SHIRT studs,
all Of gold.
old man he said to the donor. I'm keep
A week later his friend met him on the cor
ncr Of Prince street, and broadway. standing
je1wsiry Was a ali gone lUoA and III, friend pemarkei:
why what's the matter Eph? You haven't
been i" SnS a nap in m H., Par noid,r, NJ tho w,,-
dows. I've Just come through n SIEVE"
Ieke Chamberlain knows a number Of good
tells on himself. EPh met him after Chnlnhgr.
lain's return from his first trip to California,
and tho, latter had on mn old, suit Of clothes.
I've Just got back from California. Oh, 1
Yes, said Eph. after sizing him up, from
head to loot. TT not hard on clothes. out there"
one OF Horns physical peenliarilies was his
get them into his pockets, and his thumbs were
im IN w5iinS latEe g, Gnd curved o Mpw H I When q
curved up like n snuil's. horns. One summer
when he was in Boston he was accostcd by an
s6anS N nis siu Who o r9m n.isS the peculiar
tbumm My : ~ Grn. what makes you carry your
Its u a d sh%E B BsGit to the isv wq n t. bo the Post Office
Horn tried his hand ut management and had
q pretty hard time. During his first season rs
rate hotels, Six IN a bed. and barely had enough
to set up the glasses along the line. On retir-
fully and place il under his pillow. The boys
watched him do this several times In silent
wonuer.. FINAL " one asked:
Il don't deny that" replied Ephi !" but I ex-
poet To- pave som pretty soon. I'm rehears-
There arc d number of hotel, stories credited
TO E Maii s sniSs prf16ahiy original and I'd others not
Of a hotel who caught him and his party throw
having settled theIr bills, and addV Who said sst HIM:
See here, can't afford to run a hotel, and
keep sefa nig GSir5 mi EsS Ia% tFiG}Sagesa fer fern no%i3 h EE;nndor
don't you sell out to somebody that can 7"
Horns end was a sorrowfpl one' His voice
mentally and physically; He was old In mind
Il not In body, and his jokes were fiat and stale.
He took his last engagement at the Globe
Saturday afternoon he took u benefit. and all
his friends, worked like beavers, to make II a
success. The theatre was crowded, and every
Joke, no matter how stale, was applauded. In
one Of the lulls Eph came down to tho foot
lights and raised one Of his big hands, all slak-
ing with nervousness. Asudden stiffness came
oyerthe house, and he said sadly and in u quiz
ering voice:
done ETH this y last Tu .eS ave The heu p Gosn. 10 ,sd toe
the coming week has been made out, and has
been sent to the printers"
The programme had been printed, and his
name left ont: A few months later Eph Horns
name figured In the last programmes our
names are inscribed on. (